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Academic Skills and Confidence for Private School Admissions Success

Our curriculum is based on the three major components of private school applications: the SSAT/internal exam, student statements/essays, and group assessments. Our levelled-based classes are tailored by KEY’s professional education team to match each child’s current abilities, close skill gaps, and prepare efficiently.
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WHO IS IT FOR:​

Families with children aged 8 to 15:

  • Students aiming for top US and Canadian day or boarding schools;
  • Those seeking to boost academic performance and achieve high SSAT scores; and,
  • Families who want to prepare strong student essays and excel in group assessments.
Proven Track Record of Success

Our Results

Every year, KEY students receive offers from top private schools and universities across Canada, the United States, and abroad. Our results reflect the strength of our personalized guidance, academic preparation, and strategic application planning that help families turn their educational goals into reality.
2021-22 results
Why Families Choose KEY Education

Benefits

Levelled Classes to prepare for the SSAT

Our comprehensive entry assessment evaluates academic performance, placing students into our levelled class. We help students to improve their weak areas, and refine test-taking strategies to achieve efficient and measurable SSAT improvement.

Crafting Customized Application Statements

Our education team helps strengthen writing skills, while admissions advisors develop tailored application themes and recommend extracurricular activities to build a rich pool of statement materials. Finally, our writing coach provides one-on-one guidance to create personalized application essays that speak directly to target private schools.

Group Assessment Simulation to Maximize Assessment Performance

Leveraging years of data from private school group assessments and student interviews, we accurately recreate scenarios and question types, allowing students to adapt to real testing conditions in advance and to perform at their best during the actual assessment.
Comprehensive Guidance From Start to Finish

Program Components

Our program is designed to guide families through every stage of the admissions journey. From initial assessments to post-acceptance onboarding, we combine academic preparation, interview coaching, and application strategy to ensure your child is confident, prepared, and ready to thrive at their new school.

    SSAT Preparation

    This program is divided into two main areas, Math and English, covering all four sections of the SSAT. Through assignments, interactive activities, and practice tests, students will learn how to identify and solve both the common and non-standard style of questions that are typical of SSAT questions in all four components.

    Unlock Your Soft Skills – Advanced

    Simulating the environment and process of private school group assessments, our program helps students adapt to the setting, manage nerves, and demonstrate their full potential during evaluations.

    Unlock Your Soft Skills – Foundation

    In scenario-based lessons, students develop communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills while building habits of confidence and mutual respect, preparing them for the advanced level of soft skills training.

    Immersive English (I)

    Designed for students who speak English but are not yet at grade level, our course strengthens grammar, reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Once proficiency is achieved, students can progress seamlessly into Immersive English (II) for more advanced learning.

    Immersive English (II)

    Building on a strong grammar foundation, students learn to construct complex sentences and organized essays, while group activities and writing tasks foster critical thinking and communication skills, preparing them for SSAT success and advanced academic work.

    Vocabulary Enrichment

    Using root, prefix, and suffix analysis, contextual inference, and visual mapping, students learn strategies for quickly understanding new words. The course not only improves SSAT vocabulary scores but also strengthens reading comprehension, expression, and creative thinking.

    Math Concepts

    Our accelerated math program introduces concepts beyond standard grade-level expectations, including number sense, mental math, symmetry, sequences and series, and rates of change. This builds a strong foundation for the SSAT Math module and advanced math studies.

    Advanced Reading

    Through close reading and critical analysis of various text types, students sharpen their reading comprehension and analytical thinking to exceed grade-level expectations, standing out in both the SSAT and private school applications.

    Foundation Writing

    For students not yet at grade-level English proficiency, this course establishes a solid foundation in grammar and vocabulary while introducing the structure of paragraphs, essays, and narratives, preparing them for advanced writing courses.

    Advanced Writing

    Expanding on foundational writing skills, students learn to plan, revise, and proofread with precision. They explore diverse writing styles and strategies to meet the high standards of private schools, producing writing that is clear, persuasive, and impactful.

Let’s Get Started
With a Free Assessment

Our educator will evaluate your child based on private school assessment criteria. After the assessment, a report will be provided to help you understand your child's readiness for private school assessment.
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Fafa profile picture
Fafa
25 April 2026
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We’ve had a really great experience at LaunchPad with our daughter. What stood out most for us wasn’t just what she was learning, but how she was learning. She’s become much more confident expressing herself by asking thoughtful questions, explaining her ideas clearly, and enjoying her conversations with both adults and other kids. She also naturally looks for connections now, whether it’s noticing patterns in nature or how plants and animals relate to each other. That kind of thinking particularly matters to us, and it’s something LaunchPad clearly nurtures. The teachers were very supportive when she was figuring out social dynamics early on. With their help (and open communication with us), she’s become more aware, empathetic, and comfortable interacting with others. The environment itself is bright and calming, giving kids the space to explore while still feeling supported. She was accepted into our top choice private school, which we’re excited about, but more importantly, we’re happy to see her grow into a curious, confident, and engaged learner as we believe that these skills will benefit her for life. We’d highly recommend LaunchPad to any family who values the same things.
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Grace Hsueh profile picture
Grace Hsueh
18 March 2025
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My experience with KEY has been nothing short of amazing. They spent alot of time to understand our child and our family before making recommendations. The consultants were highly knowledgeable about child development and different private schools, and able to answer many of our questions. The whole process with school selection/application was thoughtful, intelligent, and strategic. Suggestions and recommendations were always clearly explained, and delivered in a professional and timely manner. KEY also provided classes for my child, which were well structured and suitable for his age and developmental stage. My child loved KEY's classes. They also have parenting classes that offered wonderful information for families with young children. All in all we are happy with our experience with KEY. Thank you!
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AMY YANG profile picture
AMY YANG
3 May 2024
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非常好的体验,我们与key的合作时间不长,短短3到4个月,但是取得了非常好的效果。孩子在key的培训课程得到了非常有针对性的培训,各方面得到了很大的提高,为私校面试和测试做了非常充足的准备。在key的帮助下,我们最终获得了两所顶私的offer,选择了最适合我们家庭和孩子的一个offer,短短3个月,4个月不到的培训,使我们家庭最终收获满意的顶私offer,很感谢key education的帮助,也足以体现key education的专业度和效率。
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Vincent Kang profile picture
Vincent Kang
28 March 2024
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We are very satisfied with our experience using Key Education. All the staffs and teachers are very professional and experienced. Because of the classes and tips they gave us, we got into a private school. We also got extra classes to help us prepare interviews and assessments. Overall, we would love to use them again in the future for other future preparations. We highly recommend Key to anyone that would like to apply to private schools.
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Jay Wu profile picture
Jay Wu
25 March 2024
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KEY Education is a wonderful establishment, especially when kickstarting a child’s journey towards a private school education. The staff and advisors are incredibly helpful and responsible when monitoring our children’s learning and growth. Both our boys have successfully gotten into the school they’ve hoped for and we couldn’t be more grateful for KEY’s guidance during this process.
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Sam J profile picture
Sam J
25 March 2024
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We are deeply thankful for the assistance Key Education provided in helping us secure private school placements for our children. Their team exhibited exceptional diligence and meticulous organization, ensuring a seamless and structured process from start to finish. They also played a crucial role in improving our boys' overall academic performance. There dedicated team showed an exemplary display of teamwork, and our children have become more effective learners thanks to KEY's influence.
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Li Nicky profile picture
Li Nicky
19 March 2024
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As a new family moving to Canada one year ago, we believe that we will not make such big progress without Key’s help and guidance. They provided very helpful advices helping us adapt ourselves to the new environment and prepare for the challenges. In addition the teachers at Key are amazing and devoted and our kid made huge progress in language and social emotional development throughout their various classes. We got to our ideal and favorite top school and would like to attribute this success to their support.
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Manita Gill profile picture
Manita Gill
12 February 2024
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I cannot recommend KEY Education enough. We have been working with KEY for almost a year now and have seen a huge difference in our daughter's literacy and numeracy skills. She now has the confidence to apply herself and we are so pleased with her academic development and progress. Moreover, I cannot say enough nice things about the teaching staff as they are all incredibly dedicated and a delight to work with. My daughter looks forward to the classes as they make learning fun and enjoyable. Additionally, the private school admissions coaching team was invaluable to us and we cannot express how happy we are for their hard work and ongoing support. Thanks to the team at KEY our daughter was accepted in multiple private schools and we fully recognize we could not have obtained these results without working together with them as a team. I would highly recommend any family looking to enroll their child in an independent school to partner with KEY as it is highly competitive and challenging process that KEY has clearly mastered.
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Alex Li profile picture
Alex Li
5 April 2023
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总体来讲是不错。通过不到半年的课程学习(孩子)和面试培训(孩子和家长)进入到了所有申请学校的面试阶段,最终顺利拿到了理想学校的offer。 它的收费不便宜,不过也是市场价。从服务质量的角度而言,也是不错的。虽然期间也经历了换顾问、换客服的事儿,但人员流动大也是这个行业的特点吧。我们后来的顾问是特别认真负责,还专门为我们做加场的面试培训。 我们从一开始就知道孩子能否拿到Offer,取决于诸多因素。对于我们而言,孩子能够最终拿到Offer, 在Key的学习和培训是非常重要的因素。 在此,感谢Key Education的顾问、老师和客服们!
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Liu Yang profile picture
Liu Yang
22 March 2023
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From the experience the kids had with Key education, they not only gained great improveness in their acedemic study, they also achieved success to be admitted to their top dream private schools. All the staff and the advisors are nice and responsible helping the kids' plans. Thanks to Key education for supporting and helping the kids achieve their goals. I will definitely recommend it to friends.
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Paul K profile picture
Paul K
24 February 2023
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Provide professional consultation and advice to parents, very experienced teachers to improve students' holistic level
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Kathy Wang profile picture
Kathy Wang
9 February 2023
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Key is a great facility to have your child educated and prepared for private school education. It’s curriculum program is well articulated and useful. Both of my boys flourished in their program and got in their dream school. The staff is always nice. The adviser is easy to reach and very informative about everything. I cannot thank Key enough for my children’s progress. Will definitely recommend friends.
Explore More Ways We Can Help

You Might Also Be Interested In:

Families often pair our admissions guidance with other KEY programs to strengthen skills, boost confidence, and prepare for the next stage of learning. Here are a few related services you might find valuable.

    Early Years Private School Admissions Guidance

    Comprehensive admissions consulting for younger applicants, from school selection and application strategy to document preparation and interview coaching. We guide families through every step of the process.

    Primary & Secondary Private School Admissions Guidance

    Strategic planning and guidance on every part of the admissions process,including school selection, application narratives, interview prep, and private school onboarding.

    Little Scholars After School Enrichment Program

    A leveled program built around early-years private school admissions criteria, with a focus on strengthening three key areas: language expression, academic foundations, and social-emotional development. 

    Junior Scholars Academic Support Program

    Designed according to private school assessments, our leveled courses strengthen language comprehension, logical thinking, and oral expression, while also training written and interview skills to comprehensively tackle entrance requirements.

    LaunchPad Academy

     A preschool program designed specifically to prepare children for private elementary school admissions. Our curriculum is aligned with private school evaluation standards, ensuring our students are fully prepared for entrance assessments and interviews, and a smooth school transition.

    Junior Scholars Academic Advising

    To ensure students continuously improve academically and develop good study habits, each family is assigned a dedicated academic advisor who works closely with students, teachers, and our admissions advisors to create a personalized academic plan that precisely meets the child’s needs.
Answers to Parents’ Most Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

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  • What materials and assessments are typically required for primary and secondary private school applications?

    Requirements vary by school. Please contact us to receive a detailed admissions checklist for your target schools. In most cases, schools require standardized tests such as the SSAT or their own entrance exams. Some also conduct group assessments to evaluate soft skills, and students in certain grades may be required to interview with admissions officers or other school staff. Typical application materials include past transcripts, standardized test scores, application essays, recommendation letters, or teacher evaluation forms.

  • When will the private school entrance exams take place?

    For the SSAT, most private schools in BC require students to submit their test result before December. Group assessments are usually conducted between November and the following February. Since both skill development and exam preparation take time, families are advised to start preparing their children 12 to 14 months in advance.

  • What SSAT score is needed for private school admission?

    There is no publicly stated benchmark score. Since private schools use a holistic review process, SSAT results are important, but application materials and assessment performance are equally critical. We recommend booking a free initial evaluation and consultation with us so we can provide tailored advice for your family.

  • What exactly is tested in a private school group assessment?

    In a group assessment, students are divided into small groups and given a limited amount of time to research a specific project or solve a problem together. After the discussion, they present their findings. Teachers use this process to evaluate key soft skills such as critical thinking, leadership, and teamwork.

KEY INSIGHTS

Admissions & Learning Resources

Get the resources you need to navigate school choices with confidence. Explore our curated guides, checklists, and expert tips designed for parents at every stage.

Resources

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    Insider Secrets from Admissions Officers: Mastering Essays & Interviews

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    The New CEO of Goldman Sachs Describes the Valuable Job Skill He’s Finding Less

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    Are You Ready to Be a Private School Parent? Here’s How You Can Tell

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    Why are students skilled in debate more likely to enter top universities?

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    Teaching Your Kids This Skill Will Set Them Up for Success.

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    Applying to Private School? Here’s What You Should Have Done by Nov. 15

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    Your Child’s Mid-term Grades Are Bad. What Can You Do Now?

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    Private School Application Checklist: Early October Edition

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    SSAT Prep Turns Low Test Scores Around

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Let’s Get Started
With a Complimentary Consultation!

Take the first step toward your child’s admission success. In this free, no-obligation session, we’ll discuss your goals, answer your questions, and map out a personalized plan to guide your admissions journey.